Parched Skin? These Products Are Hydration Heroes

Fabulous jewelry, trendy apparel, or the latest electronics may be some of the hot tickets on our holiday shopping list, but a tired, dehydrated complexion is certainly not on our skin wish list. Sure, the season of shop-till-you-drop can lead to weary souls, but worn-out skin is a ho-ho-no for the merry holiday of tidings and joy.

Struggling to hydrate parched skin can happen any time of the year, but the moisture-sapping cold months and busy holiday season puts an extra stress on our skin more at risk for dehydration. It’s time for dull, thirsty complexions to receive a skin holiday with the best skin hydration tips and products to achieve skin that’s merry and bright.

For some of us, summer is the most sizzling season, while for others, winter is the most anticipated time of the year. Crisp temps, snuggly sweaters, and frosty fun outdoors are among some of the endless possibilities of the winter wonderland season. But the cold weather, dry air, and time outdoors could mean a blizzard of skin woes, especially dehydrated skin.

Dehydrated skin isn’t so much a skin type as it is a skin condition. It occurs when the epidermal layer lacks WATER. When weather plays the “Grinch” like freezing temperatures or excessive dry air, the “grouchy” weather zaps precious moisture away from our skin cells, including lipids or fatty acids in your epidermal layer. This can lead to dryness, itchiness, dullness, and increased visibility of fine lines and wrinkles.

Since our skin is a whopping 64 percent water, when water is lacking in the environment, dehydrated skin can happen to anyone. Living in a predominately year-round climate that’s cold or dry may also exacerbate dehydrated skin. Age, job, diet, and smoking habits can also cause dry skin. If your complexion is looking less than bright and cheery, you likely have dehydrated skin.

When skin is dehydrated, it may compensate for the lack of water in the skin by overproducing oil, which could lead to even oiler skin. Like searching for a water source in the desert, dehydrated skin can become congested, dull, and lackluster. It could have a combination of annoying symptoms like being greasy and dry simultaneously, which could lead to irritation and breakouts.

Dehydration can be the culprit behind the bags under your eyes, general dullness, and premature wrinkling on your forehead (no thanks!). Makeup application over dehydrated skin can be a “nightmare before Christmas”, as even the best products tend to sit in fine lines, and emphasize problem areas.

A variety of external factors could cause dehydration and tidings of un-joy for your skin like sun exposure, weather, hydration, diet, and caffeine and alcohol consumption. In fact, if your skin is dehydrated, more than likely, you are, too. Gift yourself adequate hydration through the busy holidays

Now for the good stuff. We love curating wholesome, healthful products. But a healing skin routine for dehydrated skin doesn’t just start with skin care, but also with good daily skin habits. Dehydrated skin doesn’t need more of one extreme (oil and water) to hydrate and balance it out. Instead, it needs gentle care, of course with the help of natural products as well, to be brought to a harmonious equilibrium.

We start with a few simple life tweaks. Adding a humidifier to our collection of home gadgets can do wonders for our parched skin and our plant babies. Take warm baths and showers and moisturize the face (and body) immediately after bathing for the best absorption and longest-lasting hydration.

Now for the actual dry skin care routine. Masks are joining our regular rotation of skin care products. Hydrating gel masks, sleeping masks, and sheet masks are all welcome to play.

Next, we’re swapping out our bubbly face products for options with more slip, as gentle, creamy cleansers and moisturizers that quench the skin’s need for moisture. They feature fa-la-lovely ingredients like moisturizing essential oils, hydrating seaweeds, nourishing super fruits, and more that can save your skin care disaster and groom it into shining bright like a Christmas tree star.

Cold, winter months can take already-dry skin to the next level. Cold weather and low humidity can take thirsty skin to now dehydrated skin causing a parched, lackluster complexion. It can be hard to decide on the best way to keep skin hydrated. That’s why we curated a skin care list of tips for you and have checked it twice.

Tip #1. Really moisturizer your skin

Having dehydrated skin is one thing, but not using a moisturizer to lock in moisture is like a holiday ham without the glaze – it won’t be as moist. Choose a natural moisturizer that works hard to lock hydration into your skin and will prevent moisture from escaping from your skin.

One of our favorite treatments for dehydrated skin is our Restorative Sea Culture Extra Riche Cream, a luxurious treatment made with rich butters and oils, which also uses nutrient-rich sea minerals and hydrating seaweeds to plump and strengthen your skin.

Tip #2. Rethink your cleansing routine

Avoid harsh face exfoliating scrubs, which can wear down your skin’s protective lipid barrier, preventing your skin from keeping moisture locked in.

Opt for a gentle, natural cleanser such as our Argan Oil Creamy Cleanser. This creamy dreamy cleanser moisturizes while it cleans your skin, harnessing the power of argan oil to restore moisture and suppleness to your skin.

For stubborn impurities or flakey skin, our Blood Orange Cleansing Balm is a moisturizing facial cleanser made with degreasing blood orange, plus coconut and olive oils to melt away even the most stubborn makeup, debris, and impurities.

Tip #3. Use natural skin care products

If you have dehydrated skin – or any skin type or condition for that matter – steer clear of conventional skin care products that often contain harsh chemicals and artificial fragrances that can turn your complexion into un-merrily and un-bright sight.

Not to ring our holiday bell, but we have a fabulous range of natural skin care products that will zap dehydrated skin into ?. Some of our fan-favorite formulas for dehydrated skin that will complement your skin care routine the way fruit makes the ol’ fruitcake is our Restorative Sea Culture Hydrating Toner, which pairs nicely under its moisturizer counterpart to soften, plump, and hydrate skin and our Rose Hyaluronic Acid Serum for extra hydration and plumpness sure to turn your skin cheery and bright.

Tip #4. Use a sheet mask weekly

Weekly Step: Deep Hydration Sheet Mask

This intensely hydrating mask replenishes dry, thirsty skin with aloe juice and a nourishing trio of cucumber, hyaluronic acid, and plant ceramides. This water-drenching blend of botanicals locks in long-lasting hydration to leave skin ultra-plump, soft, and supple. Anti-inflammatory rosehip, ylang ylang, and chamomile help to calm the skin, while beta glucan soothes and moisturizes.

Happy, holiday skin is all about balance, and this applies not just to the natural, fabulous products we curated here for you, but it also applies to skin habits. Now, we know we tend to indulge in festive foods and goodies during the holidays, and hey, that’s okay! No, bah skin-bug here! But make sure you have your best skin care routine for dehydrated skin to keep your complexion cheery and bright!